Mississauga-Brampton LRT project advances

Written by
John D. Thompson, Contributing Editor

Ontario adjoining cities Mississauga and Brampton, just west of Toronto, have recently completed preliminary design and environmental assessment work for the Hurontario-Main Light Rail Transit Project, extending from Hurontario Street and Lakeshore Road, at Lake Ontario, northward to the City of Brampton, approximately 10 miles.

Both cities have finished the project's pre-consultation phase, and now have a design that will proceed through the provincial environmental assessment process. A 'Notice of Commencement' has been issued under the Transit Process Assessment Process that includes seeking public feedback studying potential impact of the project, and ways of dealing with it. An Environmental Project Report is due in June.

The project team is continuing to work on the LRT that will be submitted for project funding. Staff will report to both Mississauga and Brampton Councils, and the Metrolinx Board of Directors, once the Transit Project Assessment Process is completed. Metrolinx gave its official support for the 14.2-mile, C$1.6 billion LRT line in late 2012.

The LRT line would follow a north-south alignment along Hurontario Street, connecting with GO Transit regional rail services at both the south and north ends. In addition to connecting with Mississauga Transit bus services at major east-west streets, it would serve the Mississauga City Centre, and numerous high-density developments en route.

Mississauga is Canada's six largest city, with a population of 741,000, and is home to more than 54,000 businesses.

Metrolinx was created by the Ontario Government in 2006 as part of a strategy to deliver improved transit to the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.